semicompiled

A semicompiled language is a programming language where the source code is not directly executed by the interpreter or compiled into machine code in a single step. Instead, it undergoes an intermediate compilation process that produces an intermediate representation, often referred to as bytecode. This bytecode is then either interpreted or further compiled into machine code by a virtual machine or runtime environment. This approach combines aspects of both compiled and interpreted languages.

The primary advantage of semicompilation is portability. The bytecode generated can be executed on any platform that has a compatible virtual machine or runtime environment, without needing to recompile the original source code for each specific architecture. This is in contrast to fully compiled languages, where the executable is platform-dependent.

Semicompiled languages also often offer performance benefits over purely interpreted languages. The initial compilation to bytecode can perform optimizations and remove some of the overhead associated with interpreting source code line by line. The subsequent execution of bytecode by a virtual machine is typically faster than direct interpretation.

Examples of semicompiled languages include Java, Python (which compiles to Python bytecode), and C# (which compiles to Common Intermediate Language or CIL). The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) interprets and/or compiles Java bytecode, while the Python interpreter handles Python bytecode. The .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) executes CIL. This intermediate stage allows for platform independence and can improve execution speed compared to purely interpreted languages.